Playing Catch Up—Friday's Blog!

Friday morning while I was finishing up my eight fast miles, there was a knock on our door—it was Jim M., one of our great volunteer dog walkers! "Come on in, Jim!" I half-hollered, as I continued to walk with Leslie and her crew. Jim came inside, and we talked about the upcoming event, and what I needed for him to do, when he volunteers that day. Before leaving, to go walk more dogs, Jim told me that he had already walked fifteen dogs! Yeah Jim—thank you!

As soon as Jim left the trailer, I went on to finish my eight miles! Ten minutes later, after I was done sweatin'—I called my good friend, Rick R., the friendly lighthouse keeper, down in Port A., to discuss the upcoming event, because he and Leisa had volunteered to come up, and help me out. "Hello, Cousin Nancy!" Rick said, when he answered his phone. "We're ready to come up there, and do whatever you need for us to do. We're ready to work!" Rick and I talked for a few minutes about what was needed, then before hanging up, he said, "Well, why don't you just go walk eight miles!" Then he laughed!

"I just did, Rick!" Then it was my turn to laugh. "See y'all next week. Drive careful. Bye."

As I was putting away my lavender colored, two pound hand weights—Tony came inside—he was through feeding the dogs and cleaning their pens. "Tone, I'm fixin' to clean up, and then I have some paperwork to do, and it's going to take me at least an hour."

"What can I do to help?" T. asked.

"You can fix lunch."

"What?" Tony asked. "You're kidding me?"

"Nope. Take the chicken breasts out of the refrigerator, put them in this dish, then pour some BBQ sauce on them..."

Tony started laughing. "Anything else?"

"Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and cook the chicken for an hour," I said, as I headed towards our bedroom to get cleaned up. "I'll tell everyone that you fixed lunch for us!" I half-hollered.

When I was done with my paperwork, so was T.'s BBQ chicken! I quickly made us a salad, and used as many cucumbers—from our garden—we're talkin' three. Tony's chicken was delicious, but the salad was a little bit too crunchy.

After lunch, Tony asked me to go to Bandera with him, because he had a surprise for me there. After cleaning up the kitchen, we took off in Trigger. When we arrived in Bandera, Tony parked Trig in front of the OST and told me to stay put. I did as I was told, and listened to my new favorite song, 'Stand By Me,' from the Playing For Change CD.

The song was near the end, when Tone returned to the truck, wearing a big grin on his face. "I had this made for you, and I hope you like it." I opened up the sack to find a pink cap with my name on it! I loved it and told him so.! Here is a picture of it:

When we got home, Tony had one more surprise for me! He took me to the garden, and pointed at four small plants, "I planted these for you, a couple of days ago!"

"Well, thank you, T., but what are they?"

"Gourds, Nance. I planted four different kinds of gourds for you, so you can paint and decorate them!" I was thrilled! I love Tony so much!

"Grow Gourds Grow!" I whispered to the tiny plants, as we left the garden, and went to the trailer.

Around five o'clock the phone rang—it was Kinky. "Nance, this is Kinky..."

"Hello Kinky," I said. "What's up?"

"Is it too late for me to come over and have a picnic with Toto and your dogs?"

"No. Come on over—they'll love it!" Ten minutes later, Kinky was on the front porch serving my dogs fried chicken, while my iPod played—'Stand By Me,' followed by 'One Love.' When the picnic was over, we all went into Outer Space and had a fun visit.

Walk The Walk!

This morning, at six o'clock, while I was still asleep, Tony called Kinky to wake him up, so he could do the Imus show. Then Tone and Trigger went to the Old Timer in Medina. I reluctantly crawled out of bed at six-thirty, and did not want to get up, because I was sleeping with the dogs, but I had to get up, so I could turn off the alarm clock. Then I fed our dogs and Lucky, the cat.

As I was preparing our breakfast smoothies, I watched the Imus Show, and Kinky was hilarious! At seven-forty-two, I started recording Imus, then I went online to watch the Harley Show! Three minutes later, I muted Harley doing his live web cast, went over to the phone, and called the Rose 99.9 to do my segment, about the rescue ranch, with Harley!

When I was done, Kinky was done, and Tony walked in the front door at eight o'clock! While we were drinking our breakfasts, the phone rang—it was Kinky. I let Carlton take the call, and listened to what Kinky had to say. Bottom line, he wanted me to call him, and he was anxious for me to come over to the Lodge, to discuss some business with him.

After cleaning up the kitchen, I returned Kinky's phone call. It was short and brief, then Trigger took me over to the Lodge. Kinky and I discussed business, and then we looked for items that he could donate to the silent auction, for his June 13th Kinky Roundup benefit event.

We found six great items for him to donate to the cause, but the last item Kinky decided to donate to the auction, kinda made me sad, because it is the hand painted sign, that I made for Kinky, back in '06, when he ran for governor. I spent several hours making it, and it still hangs above his door in the kitchen, that says—'Governor Kinky Friedman's Command Center!' At first, I tried to talk him out of donating it, but then I realized that I could just make him another one—it was no big deal really. I love making signs.

An hour and a half later, Trigger returned me safely back to the rescue ranch, so I could walk some more miles with my friend, Leslie Sansone, even though I still haven't met her personally. Just as I was starting to 'walk the walk,' our dogs started barking—someone was here! Tony went outside to see who it was.

Just as I was finishing my three minute warm-up, Tony came inside, wearing a grin on his face. "Your order from "Playing For Change' is here. While I was doing double knee lifts, while trying to tuck in my tummy—Tone opened up the package for me. By the time I was doing double side steps—T. held up my black t-shirt, and then he waved the CD/DVD at me—that I had ordered from them! I was thrilled they had arrived, and I couldn't wait to download the music to my iPods, and to watch that incredibly great DVD!

Fifteen minutes before I had completed the four fast miles—the phone rang, again. I couldn't quit race-walking, so Carlton took that call, too. As I was walking circles around 'the big room,' sweating like a pig, and getting a little dizzy, I heard Jon Wolfmueller's voice—telling me that he wanted me to call him, too.

As soon as I was done with the four fast miles, I called Jon. "How was your business meeting with Kinky this morning?" Jon asked.

"How did you know that I went over to Kinky's this morning for a business meeting?" I asked, wondering if Jon had psychic powers that I didn't know about. Jon started laughing!

"You always go over to Kinky's for morning business meetings, Nancy—I read your blog everyday." Then we both laughed, and talked a little business.

After I had cleaned up, I returned three phone calls, before Kinky called, again. "Nance, I am going to Kerrville to buy a new telephone. Can you help me set it up when I get back?"

By the end of our conversation, I had agreed to set it up for him, and to meet him for lunch at Luby's with Tony, at twelve-forty-five. When we pulled into Luby's parking lot, one minute late—we found Kinky sitting inside Mr. Green Jeans talking on his cell phone.

Lunch was delicous and fun, and just before leaving, I saw my friends, Pat G. and Pam M. walk over to a table, carrying their trays of food. As soon as they sat down, I went over to say hello to them, then Kinky and Tony came over to their table. We visited for a few minutes and then we left, so they could enjoy their lunch.

After saying goodbye to Kinky, Trigger took us to Wolfmueller's Books, because I couldn't wait for Sandy and Jon to watch the 'Playing For Change' DVD! They couldn't wait to see it, but unfortunately, there were some technical difficulties—no sound! Before leaving to go back to the ranch, they told us that they would check it out on youtube, and watch 'Stand By Me.'

Tony and I listened to 'Stand By Me' and 'One Love' over and over again, until we arrived home, because those are my two favorite songs on the CD. They are so beautiful, I tear up when I listen to them.

At five-thirty, I went over to the Lodge and hooked up Kinky's new phone, and then came back home.

Y'all have a great evening!

P.S. Here is one of Kinky's newest bumper stickers, that he gave to me this morning! I love it!

It Only Takes One Bad Apple...!

First off, I apologize for not blogging yesterday. I walked five fast miles, got cleaned up, and then Kinky showed up with some visitors—Kari, a reporter and her partner, Bobby. They were real nice people and after giving them a tour of the rescue ranch, we went into Outer Space and had a really fun visit. After that, I went outside, to take some pictures of Paul McCartney, the dog we rescued a few days ago, so I could get Pat, to post him up on our web site.

Our good friend, Carol, came over around five-thirty, and we had Happy Hour in Outer Space! After we had caught up with each other's news, I told her about 'Playing For Change.' She seemed really interested in watching it, so we came inside the trailer, and the three of us watched it! Needless to say, Carol loved watching 'Stand By Me,' and the three of us all got goose bumps, as we watched it—it touched our hearts! Before going home, Carol told us that she couldn't wait to share it with all of her friends around the world!

This morning, Tony nearly scared me to death, when he came home from the Old Timer! "Morning, Tone," I said, as he walked inside our trailer.

"Good morning, Babe," He said, as he put away his camera. "I almost woke you up last night."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Last night, around two in the morning—a scorpion bit me behind my right ear."

"Oh my gosh!" I said, feeling sick at the thought of scorpions. "Are you okay? What happened to the scorpion?"

"I'm okay, now, but last night my tongue got thick, and my nodes swelled up on my neck. I took some antihistimine, and then I
stayed up for the rest of the night, because the pain was killing me."

"T., I am so sorry. You should have woken me up." I said, as I cringed at the thought of a scorpion in our bed last night. And, I hate to admit it, but I also thought—better him than me. "What did you do with the scorpion?" I asked, again.

"I threw him against the wall, it was a gut reaction, and I couldn't find him this morning."

"You mean he is still somewhere in our bedroom?" I said softly, feeling sick and more than a little bit scared.

"Sorry, Nance. I was in too much pain. He must have fallen from the ceiling, and landed on my pillow and bit me. That's all that I can figure."

"Don't apologize, Tone. I'm just glad that you are okay. And please, if that ever happens again—wake me up!" Tony then showed me his spider bite. There was a big red, puffy ring around the bite, and it really grossed me out, and gave me bad goose bumps.

After breakfast, I walked five miles, again. Then I had to work on some artwork, for a new sign that we are fixing to have made for our rescue ranch, while Ben, Aaron and Tony put up some new fencing outside.

This afternoon, Buttermilk, Tony and I went to Kerrville to get groceries at H.E.B. Tony and I turned on our cell phones, then he dropped me off at the store's front door, and then he went to fill Buttermilk up with gas.

After speed shopping through the store, my last isle was the fruit section. I grabbed bananas, lemons and then I went over to the apple area. I pulled a plastic shopping bag from the roller, and then, one by one, added four apples. I decided to add one more apple, to the see through sack, and that's when the bottom fell out! Yes, five apples fell to the floor, and started rolling away from me, as I stood there in disbelief!

I was so embarrassed, so I did the only thing that I could do—I laughed out loud, as the runaway apples slowed their pace! I looked up, and this sweet, young couple with a darling little baby—smiled as they stared at me! "Looks like it only takes one bad apple..." I joked. They and several other people, started laughing with me, while the nice young man—helped me gather up my MacIntosh crop!

After thanking the kind, wannabe, Johnny Appleseed, for his help, I went to check out my groceries. As the friendly checker scanned my items, I called Tone to find out where they had parked.

As Tony loaded up our canvas bags, full of fresh fruits and vegetables, I told him about my 'Bad Apple' accident on isle one.

Tone must had found it pretty funny, because he wouldn't quit laughing. "Did you find all of the apples?" T. asked.

"Nope. We only found four of them. I think 'number five' must have rolled under the bin and was hiding." Then we returned to the rescue ranch.

"Nance, this is Kinky—call me." That was the only message on the answering machine. I called Kinky, and then went over to the Lodge, for a short business meeting with him, then we went outside, and visited by the Friedman Family Bone Orchard.

I was back home by seven o'clock. Before writing this blog, I downloaded my pictures of Paul McCartney and out of ten shots, I picked this one to send to Pat to post on utopiarescue.com. The other photo, tongue-in-cheek, is too cute, and it made me laugh out loud, so here it is, too!.


Y'all have a great evening! I'm going to bed early, because I've got a busy day planned for tomorrow!
P.S. Paul McCartney is approximately one year old, and one super, fine dog! I wish that one of y'all would adopt him! He is well trained and ready to be someone's best dog ever!

Heard It Through The Grapevine!

Part 2. of 'Here Comes The Judge!' (Dedicated to Mari!)

After Carol, Tony and I had our serious discussion, it was time to change the subject, so I told a joke, that Fay had e-mailed to me, last week. "You, know how when people go to their high school reunion—everyone thinks that everybody has really aged, except for them. Okay, well there's this old woman, that is my age—57, and it is her first time to go to her new dentist. While she is waiting on the 'Keeper of the Tooth,' she starts reading the diplomas on the wall, and quickly realizes that she and her dentist attended the same high school—at the same time! When the dentist enters the room—she is shocked at what she saw! The man was pudgy, wrinkled, bald and looked really old—we're talking ancient. The dentist says, 'Do you have any questions before we begin?' The woman clears her throat and says, "I was just reading your diplomas on the wall, and realized that you and I were at the same high school—at the same time.' The dentist then takes a step backwards, and then studies his patient closely, and then says, 'What subject did you teach?'" Carol and Tony laughed!

We then went into Outer Space for a visit. Carol told us about her fun trip, last week, to Costa Rica, along with some very funny incidents. Then we talked about horses, and by the time we were done with that—it looks like we are going to go camping this Fall, for eighteen hours or less, and she is going to bring her horses for us to ride! I can't wait to do it, and Tony was excited about cooking for us—using his dutch ovens—while Carol and I were off riding the range, and trading stories.

Carol thought Tony cooking for us sounded really neat, but she doesn't know that the only thing that Tony cooks really well, so far, in his dutch ovens—is beans and biscuits! And, they are truly delicious, but I can just see it now, Carol and me up on her horses, at sunrise, blazing a trail to somewhere, as we continually blame her horses for being overly gaseous!

Our last conversation, before Carol had to leave, was about making wine! "I know that wine making is a fine art," I stated. "But I have no clue on how to make it—even though I am pretty artistic."

Tony then tells us that he has an old friend, who is an expert at it, and he was going to give him a call! Even though none of us knew a thing about the wine making process, it didn't really matter, because we were already too busy thinking up names and logo designs for our private labels, and what we are going to name our vineyards! I don't know if it was the wine talking—but I know that we sure did a lot of laughing!

As we walked Carol out to her car, we came up with a secret sign for us, too! It is a 'W' using three fingers, like the peace sign, but with an extra finger—meaning Wine!

Yesterday, Tony helped me plant my grapevine in the garden! And, then my friend Cindy, came over for a visit. She loved the Playing For Change, too, and couldn't wait to share it with her friends!

Y'all have a great evening—especially Mari!

P.S. I've definitely decided to make boxed wine. I'm going to save my empty boxes, and funnel my wine into them and then seal it up with duct tape! And, thank you Fay for the joke! Kinky loved it, too!

This Is Too Cool!

This morning I went over to the Lodge at 7:30. Kinky wanted me to look at some sketches, by our friend, Copper Love, that she has done for an upcoming book! When I saw them I got goose bumps, because they were absolutely beautiful! She is one incredibly talented artist! In other words—I loved her sketches!

This morning, after doing my fast five mile walk, I checked my e-mail. My friend Drew, had sent me an e-mail, asking me to please check out this video on youtube. He wrote that it was amazing and fantastic, and he thinks the full set can be purchased at Star Bucks.

I checked it out and asolutely loved it! It is called, Playing For Change: Song Around the World "Stand By Me!" It is an amazing video and it made me feel good. Please check it out—you'll love it, I promise! I have also posted their web site on the sidebar under 'Favorite Links,' so you can listen and watch their other fantastic music videos!

Playing For Change

Y'all have a great day!